SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – David M. Ketchmark, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that the Eagle Rock, Mo., Postmaster was charged in federal court today in connection with conspiring to rob or burglarize a convenience store.

Michael Joe Stubblefield, 48, of Cassville, Mo., was charged by complaint with conspiring to interfere with interstate commerce by threats or violence in connection with planning an alleged robbery of Uncle Roy’s convenience store in Eagle Rock.

According to an affidavit supporting the complaint, on multiple occasions, Stubblefield met with confidential informants, who were cooperating with law enforcement, for the purpose of coordinating a staged robbery or burglary at Uncle Roy’s Convenience Store by utilizing an employee’s access information to gain entry after the store was closed. When that employee was terminated from the store, the affidavit states, Stubblefield abandoned the plan of a staged robbery and turned his attention toward a possible take-over robbery.

Ketchmark cautioned that the charges contained in the complaint and affidavit are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This case is being prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Oliver and Assistant U.S. Attorney James Kelleher. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Postal Service – Office of Inspector General, and the Barry County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department.

Eagle Rock, MO postmaster facing federal charges for alleged robbery plot